M.O.T. Charter School proposes charter high school

The M.O.T. Charter School will be holding an informational meeting Thursday night on a proposed charter high school that is expected to open in the fall of 2014. The proposed school will be divided into two academies – an Academy of the Arts and an Academy of Science and Technology.

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By Kim Manahan

Middletown Transcript

By Kim Manahan

Posted Dec. 11, 2012 at 4:00 AM

By Kim Manahan
Posted Dec. 11, 2012 at 4:00 AM

Middletown, Del.

The M.O.T. Charter School will be holding an informational meeting Thursday night on a proposed charter high school that is expected to open in the fall of 2014.

The proposed school will be divided into two academies – an Academy of the Arts and an Academy of Science and Technology.

"What we're attempting to do is take two popular school models, Cab Calloway School of the Arts and the Charter School of Wilmington, and combine them with M.O.T. as it exists now so that the high school would have these two academies," said Linda Jennings, head of school for the M.O.T. Charter School.

The application to modify the school's charter with the state is due Dec. 31, she said. To move forward with the plans, the school's charter has to be modified with the state to reflect all grade levels they serve.

"We have a lot of excitement from our current families," Jennings said.

There are about 675 students enrolled in the M.O.T. Charter School, which serves students from kindergarten through eighth grade.

Jennings anticipates state approval early next year.

Like other charter schools across the state, admission to the school is done through a lottery process.

The cost to build the school and location are still being worked out, but Jennings said that it will be in the Middletown, Odessa, and Townsend area.

"We plan to open in a temporary facility while's we're building our permanent one," she said.

She said that the temporary school will open in 2014.

Classes are also still being planned.

"We're contemplating a few pathways for each academy," Jennings said.

The Academy of the Arts will potentially have curriculums focusing on performing arts, digital communication arts, and visual arts and the Academy of Science and Technology may have bio-medical science and technology, energy and environmental engineering, engineering, and science and technology.

Jennings said their goal is to have class sizes of 180 students per grade split between the two academies with about 31 students in each classroom for core classes.

Students will also take electives specialized for their path which as the classes get more specialized, will most likely have smaller class sizes.

"We think this is a great," Jennings said. "Our goal is to offer another vhoice for families in our area."

Thursday night's meeting will run from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the gymnasium of the school at 1156 Levels Road in Middletown.